Mortar shell explodes in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5 children killed, 12 injured

(Representational image)

At least five children were killed and 12 others injured when an old mortar shell they were playing with exploded in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday.

The incident took place in the Lakki Marwat district when a group of children discovered an unexploded mortar shell in the hills and brought it back to their village to play with it, according to PTI.

As per the police, the device detonated while they were playing with it, unaware that it was a bomb.

Five children were killed and 12 others injured in the blast, they said, PTI reported.

Rescue teams arrived at the scene and rushed the injured to the nearby City Hospital.

According to the hospital spokesperson, most of the 12 injured are children, some of whom are in critical condition. The incident has caused widespread panic among residents.

(With inputs from PTI)